Today, the final match of Georgian national basketball Cup took place at Tbilisi Sports Palace. “Dinamo” Tbilisi defeated “Rustavi” and the champion of Europe and owner of Soviet Union’s Cup won the Georgian Cup for the second time.
As it was expected, the final battle turned out to be tense and interesting for the audience. Finally, the most titled basketball club won 95:87 and caught up with “Tbilaviamsheni” and “Armia” with the number of victories.
Lasha Gamkrelidze, captain of “Dinamo”, was named the best player of the final match. He earned 19 points, 9 assists and 3 rebounds.
“Dinamo” players Garrick Sherman and Ilia Londaridze made double doubles. The first one earned 22 points and 16 rebounds and the second one – 17 points and 10 rebounds. Marko Popovic gained 14 points and Besik Lezhava 13 points.
Two players of “Rustavi” also made double double. Akaki Dvalishvili added 15 rebounds to 21 points and Hayden Humes earned 17 points and 11 rebounds. Back liner Mikheil Chochua gained 18 points.
“Dinamo” Tbilisi won the Georgian Cup in 2004 for the first time and current head coach Irakli Khoshtaria was then captain of “Dinamo” and as for the current captain of the team Lasha gamkrelidze, 11 years ago he was triumphant.
Post-match press conference
Mikheil Beruashvili (head coach of “Rustavi”): “I congratulate “Dinamo” the deserved victory. The match turned to be tense and interesting for the audience. I want to thank my guys. The decisive stage of the Championship is ahead and we will try to come out successfully”.
Irakli Khoshtaria (head coach of “Dinamo”): “Thanks to the opponent for such good play, I wish “Rustavi” success in future. As far as you know, we have lost two consecutive matches at the Super League’s regular Championship and thanks to my guys that we managed to eradicate this failure. The match started hard for us, but the guys worked, fought and achieved the desire. After 11-year pause, this time I won the Georgian Cup as a coach and I will try to get more victories with “Dinamo”.
Lasha Gamkrelidze (captain of “Dinamo” Tbilisi): “I played for “Rustavi” for 3 years and I will always have good memories of that period. Thanks to the opponent for good play and as for us, “Dinamo” showed its true face. We were mobilized in the crucial moment. I am glad that I won the Cup for the second time, this time as a team’s captain”.
